1. The questions they ask.

2. The time they arrive at practice.

3. Their ability to listen and carry out instructions.

4. Their attitude and effort they bring each day.

5. Their lifestyle and habits outside of practice time.

6. How committed are they to the things that require no talent?

7. Where are they looking when you address them (or addressing the team)?

8. Are they attending, and contributing, at team functions that “aren’t mandatory”?

9. Do they approach practice with enthusiasm and passion rain or shine, or only on days where they feel good and the sun is out?

10. How do they respond to adversity?

 

10 ways to gauge how committed your athletes really are - FootballScoop

Right on? Or asking too much of kids in today's busy world?

Right on? Or asking too much of kids in today's busy world?

 

Good list. I don't necessarily think too much to ask so long as you don't expect a kid to be 100% on all ten if that makes sense ie some very dedicated kids may not be morning people so just getting to 7am practices on time shows dedication much less getting there 20 minutes early whereas for less dedicated kids, early mornings may be easy so really doesn't "prove" anything. There are other examples but you get what I mean.

Right on? Or asking too much of kids in today's busy world?

 

Right on

Look like good life lessons. They appear to apply to the adult working world too.

I love it. Good way to observe what a player's motives are.

Look like good life lessons. They appear to apply to the adult working world too.

 

Agreed. You could ask these questions in any workplace.

#9

I doubt many kids look forward to practice. I doubt many coaches do either, especially later in the year or when kids aren't enthused.

#9

I doubt many kids look forward to practice. I doubt many coaches do either, especially later in the year or when kids aren't enthused.

 

Amen.

#9

I doubt many kids look forward to practice. I doubt many coaches do either, especially later in the year or when kids aren't enthused.

 

I like practice a whole lot more than games

Good list for any sport, not just football, and these are things I as a coach instinctively look for in a player (though I never sat down to make a comprehensive list like this). It's also a reason I have had some teams with individual ability/talent that didn't live up to their potential either as individuals or a team, simply because most of the players would not receive a check mark by many, if ANY of these questions. And I am sure there are teams (football and others) that you can sit back and say "man, this team should be a lot better than they are". Players have to want to not just play, but do ALL the work up to time to play as well. It's easy to show up for a game and want the ball/get on the field. The not so easy part, to adequately prepare yourself for that, is the list above. That's what separates the will to achieve.

While this list is all well and good, talent still wins out.

While this list is all well and good, talent still wins out.

 

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard!

Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard!

 

No it doesnt.

Don't forget 1A: "Have they foresaken all other silly sports to dedicate their life to the only one that truly matters?"